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NUFED STATES Parent @rrrcn JOli-N COPE l3U'l"ERlrIELD AND 'lELl*ORlJ Cln'UiliNilt. iiA'lFlll'IL lt, 0F

' LONDON, ENGLAND.

EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGE.

S'EECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,946, dated March 29, 1892. Pllication tiled November 18, 1889. Serial No; 330,780. No specimensl Patented in England August 1, 1889, No. 12,249.

.T 0 all whom, it may 1071 0am.- I

Be it known that we, JOHN Corn BUTTER- rmnn andTELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR, both subjects of the Queen of England, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in High-Explosive Cartridges, (for which we have made appl cation for patent of Great Britain, No. iii-l9, dated August 1, 1889,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of cartridges containing an explosive compound which are known to chemists as high explosives, the explosive consisting, essentially, of themixture of an oxidizing agent-for example, a nitrate with a certain proportion of a nitro-hydrocarbon. Many patents have been granted for explosive compounds consisting, essentially, of nitrate of ammonia and nitro-naphthaline, or one of the nitro products, the object of the patentees in every case being to protect the hygroscopic nitrate from the action of moisture by incasing it in some fatty material or coatingit over with a varnish, gutta-percha, or collodion, sometimes using great pressure and heat to cause the fatty material to exude and coat the particles of nitrate with a protective coating and afterward plungingthe cartridges into melted paratiine, and finally wrapping up the same in paper. Now by none of the foregoing methods have the various inventors been successful in preventing the absorption of moisture by the cartridges when the same are exposed to the damp atmosphere and rough usage of ordinary mining; also, when any of the foregoing explosives are fired in a confined space, as in the levels of a colliery or mine, great flame and smoke are given oit from the combustion of the paper, wrapping, or other protecting material of parafiine with which they are enveloped, and the production of flame or sparks is thus engendered, which it is especially necessary to avoid in the case of collieries WllOlO gas is present. Now, by the means adopted by us in the manufacture of our improved cartridges the absorption of moisture is rendered impossible and the cartridges so made will keep for 'my length of time in any climate and require only an ordinary cap to insure their dct-onation, and, secondly, there being no paper wrapping or paral'liue used in their manui'acture, the liability of danger arising from the giving off of flame or sparks is reduced to a minimum. I

lhe method of manufacturing the explosive compound is as follows: Thoroughly dry and pure nitrate of ammonia is ground to fine powder under edge runners, which are kept hot by means, preferably, of steam, and when the necessary degree of fineness is attained the requisite percentage of mono-nitronaphthaline or nitro-bcnzincis added and the rollers continue grinding and mixing the two ingredients together until they are thoroughly amalgamated. This point can easily be determincd by any person conversant with the manufacture. .The .hot material is now rcmoved from the mill and passed through a hot sieve, and the sifted material is placed at once on tablcs,which are kcpt warm by means of steam or hot water, it being desirable that the explosive compound be kept warm until it is placed into the metallic cases and sealed; otherwise it will absorb moisture and become valueless as an explosive agent.

The case consists of a hollow cylinder preferably made or" thin sheet metal, such as lead or other metal or alloys having the requisite ductility and toughness. The cylinder is closed at one end andhas at Lhcothcr a screwthread run upon the metal. The cases are of various lengths and diameters to suit the various-sized holes used in blasting. The operator takes the case' 1nd,usingit as a scoop,

iills it gradually by pushing the warm ex plosivc powder into it by means of a light wooden rammcr. \Yhcu quite full, the outside of the casc is carefully wiped and passed on to a second operator, who sligs onto the screwed end of the case a small capof metal, which has been dipped in quicledrying waterproof paintorclpiivaicnt. 'lhepaiutinscrtsitself between the screw-tlncads, and the excess exudes and forms a water-proof ring, which when dry absolutely prevents the absorption of moisture. -'.lhe cases can be filled by machines, it'desired, and soldering may be cmployed instead of the paint to close the cases. In order to fire the material, it is only necessary to insert a knife into the non-screwed end or out ofi the projecting end of the oylinder and push in the detonator. If it is necessary to employ more than one cartridge at the same time, two or more can be fired by the same detonator by simply reinoving the caps and placing the two cartridges together end to end. In this manner a great number can be fired at once. By employing these cases and charging them in the manner above di- --rected, it becomes possible to. use explosive compounds containing a highly hygroscopic salt, which explosives up to the present time it has nevenbeen possible to use practically,

thoughit is Well known that such combinations possess many advantages, the principal beingthei'r great safety and non-liability to explosion either from sources of fire or con- QUSSNIL Another great advantage in the use of these explosives is the freedom from flame and noxious fumes when fired.

W'e clai n1- A cartridge containing a high-ex losive compound hermetically sealed therein while hot, substantially as described. 2 5 In testimony whereof we have hereto set our handsin the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: I I GEO. B. F. FRANKLIN,

1.7 Gracechurch Street, London, E. C. GEO. F. WARREN,

Notary Public, London. 

